Dental Foundation

Kendrick Fellowship to be Funded, Awarded in 2018

Anne Kendrick Hall and R. Garnett Hall, Jr. recently elected to make a contribution via IRA rollover to fund the Vaiden Blankenship Kendrick Fellowship in Oral Surgery endowment. In 2012, Mrs. Hall set up a bequest with the Dental Foundation of North Carolina (DFNC) to be fulfilled in her will but through the IRA rollover she and her husband have funded the fellowship now. The fellowship honors the memory of Mrs. Hall’s late father and will benefit a student enrolled in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program.

“We’re truly grateful for Anne’s generous original commitment, and equally so for her and Garnett’s current investment in the fund so we can award the fellowship next year,” said Paul Gardner, executive director of the DFNC. “The Halls are wonderful supporters of our school and we’re pleased that they were able to take advantage of the IRA rollover to honor her father in Anne and Garnett’s lifetimes while helping to further the dental discipline Dr. Kendrick loved. We look forward to awarding the inaugural Kendrick Fellowship in 2018.”

Vaiden Blankenship Kendrick received his undergraduate education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to the establishment of the UNC School of Dentistry, he earned his dental degree in 1932 at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, from which he graduated magna cum laude and as a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. Following his graduation, he entered private practice with his twin brother, Vance, before pursuing his specialty training in oral surgery. Kendrick opened his oral surgery practice in 1938 in Charlotte, N.C.

Early in World War II, Kendrick volunteered for service along with many Charlotte doctors and nurses as the War Department had granted permission to Charlotte Memorial Hospital to form a military evacuation hospital (evac hospital). Most evac hospitals were medical school teaching hospitals so this was an unusual unit. In April 1942, Kendrick was commissioned a major in the United States Army, Dental Corps, serving with the 38th Evacuation Hospital in England and during the North African Campaign. During the war he expressed great admiration for American soldiers whom he proudly called, “damn fine troops.” He was honorably discharged in April 1946, with the rank of lieutenant  colonel.

“I knew early on how much my dad loved oral surgery,” Mrs. Hall said. “In fact, one of my first memories is of him studying for his boards. He became the second board certified oral surgeon in North Carolina in 1950.”

Kendrick is remembered as a dedicated member of the Charlotte community, serving on the original staff at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Carolinas Medical Center) and was instrumental in the formation of that hospital’s dental clinic, all while working in his private practice. During his career, Kendrick served as president of the Charlotte Dental Society and was an active member of the North Carolina Dental Society. He was active with national and regional organized dentistry groups, was a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Surgery and a charter member of the Southeastern Society of Oral Surgeons. At the time of his death in September 1974, at age 66, Kendrick was caring for patients in his office and was chief dental officer at Charlotte Memorial.

“I wanted to do something to honor my dad and his generous spirit, and also reflect his love of oral surgery. The fellowship will be in his name and will benefit someone who shares a passion for oral surgery as he did,” Mrs. Hall said. “Dental education continues to become more and more expensive, and I am aware today’s students often need financial help – like my father and Uncle Vance did when they were in school.”

Mrs. Hall said her understanding of the cost of dental education coupled with her admiration and love for her father, and the excellence of the UNC School of Dentistry are what led her to consider establishing the fellowship.

“This fund is set up to honor my father and the way he lived his life,” said Ms. Hall. “I feel that he gave me so much, and this is something, in a way, that I can give to him. He would be both humbled and thrilled to have a fellowship in oral surgery named in his honor at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. He was truly ‘Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred.’ He loved dentistry and he loved Carolina. The fellowship seems like a perfect match.”